Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-WPS-KTM rider Blake Baggett will not be lining up at Washougal this weekend. Though Baggett has taken a win and several top-5 finishes in the 16 motos of the season so far, the heat and an unknown virus have pushed him to take a break and focus on his health. This weekend will mark the first race Baggett has missed in 86 races.
Photo Credit: Simon Cudby
“The safest thing to do for Blake right now is pull out for this weekend” team manager Forrest Butler said. “We will continue to work with new doctors that have come into play as of this week, find out what [type of virus] he has, and get him back healthy again.”
“From my end, I just want to see Blake healthy” said Ray Butts, COO of Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. “We all know he is fully capable of winning when he is healthy. The back-to-back seasons, year after year get to be so grueling and sometimes it’s easy to forget what these guys have been through… He has proven to ride through just about anything, and right now he’s just showing that he is human and can get sick too. I am confident we will get things figured out and be back on track soon enough.”
Photo Credit: Kardy Photo
The team plans on taking full advantage of Baggett’s week off and the following week break to assess his health and needs. A timetable for his return has not been announced, but we will keep you updated as more information becomes available. For now, we are looking forward to Baggett’s health improving and cheering on his teammates Benny Bloss and Justin Bogle at the Washougal National!
Thanks to all of the sponsors who make Team RMATVMC possible!
